By Lauren Kaniecki
On April 21st, 2025, Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, passed away at the age of 88 due to a stroke and heart failure. This passing has left faithful Catholics worldwide devastated.
Pope Francis has done so much for this community and has become a true inspiration for not only Catholics, but for everyone around the world.
Pope Francis became the Pope on March 13th, 2013. During his tenure, he accomplished great things for the Church and changed it for the better. He was a big advocate for the environment. He became the first Pope to dedicate an entire letter, Laudato Si’, to the environment and climate change.
In his letter, Pope Francis said the following: “The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.”
In addition, he greatly prioritized the poor, making it clear that the Church must stand with them. He frequently used his platform to speak out against poverty in the Global South, emphasizing the need for solidarity with nations suffering from poverty and conflict.
Pope Francis had visited impoverished communities and refugee camps. For example, in 2016 he visited Lesbos, Greece, where thousands of refugees were stranded, and he brought 12 refugees back to the Vatican with him.
There are so many other accomplishments that Pope Francis had achieved when selected to take the papacy. He has inspired millions of people all over the world to give back to their communities and maintain a good environment. Pope Francis will be forever missed.
